If you've been wanting to go on a cruise to Alaska once the world reopens, you might have to put it on hold. The Canadian government announced a ban on cruise liners carrying at least 100 passengers through at least February 28, 2022. This will impact the Disney Cruise Line and other cruise operators who sail to Alaska. The official announcement says,
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced two new Interim Orders, which prohibit pleasure craft in Canadian Arctic waters and cruise vessels in all Canadian waters until February 28, 2022. This means:
- Adventure-seeking pleasure craft are still prohibited from entering Arctic waters.
- Passenger vessels carrying more than 12 people are still prohibited from entering Arctic coastal waters, including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, and the Labrador Coast.
- Cruise vessels carrying more than 100 people are still prohibited from operating in Canadian waters.
Every Disney Cruise line, the DisneyDream, the Disney Fantasy, the Disney Magic, and the Disney Wonder all carry over 100 passengers so this means all upcoming sailings to Alaska have been suspended at this time. Guests who booked staterooms on 2021 Alaskan cruises have not yet been notified of itinerary cancellations and there are no new reservations available at this time. This new Canadian cruising ban will likely make Disney have to cancel its entire 2021 Alaskan sailing season and won't be able to offer an Alaskan sailing itinerary until May 2022 at the earliest. This would mark three years without the cruise line visiting Alaska since the last cruise was in 2019 due to the canceled 2020 season.
Although the CDC lifted its “No-Sail Order” on October 31, 2020, Disney Cruise Line has yet to return and may be unable to do so for quite some time.
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